There are a lot of plusses when it comes to holiday proposals. (After all, it's called proposal season for a reason.) But, "while a holiday proposal is special, simply choosing a holiday proposal doesn't automatically make it thoughtful," points out Sarah Glick, proposal and wedding planner with Brilliant Event Planning in New York City.

To make it special — and to fit it in flawlessly between holiday parties, family gatherings, and even stressful gift shopping — takes a lot of work. So before you get down on bended knee beneath the Christmas tree, think over these five things.

1. Make sure the ring will be ready in time.As we said, the holidays are a popular time for proposals, which means your jeweler might just be slammed this time of year. And as a result, "they can often experience longer delivery times than normal," warns Glick. So don't blindly trust the timelines you read online, she instructs. If you're set on a holiday proposal, speak directly with your jeweler to see how long the ring will take to deliver. "You don't want to be scrambling last minute," Glick says.

2. Choose the right location.The point of a holiday proposal is often to take advantage of the friends and family members who have gathered together so that everyone can join in on the fun. If you whisk your partner off for a holiday getaway instead, you might just lose out on the opportunity to share the news with your nearest and dearest, Glick points out. So think about what's more important — a big familial celebration, or, say, an intimate ski lodge proposal — before you plan how to pop the question.

3. Think about whether you're comfortable with sharing the spotlight.As Glick points out, "while holiday proposals are romantic, they also mean that you will not be the only person you know getting engaged, which means you might need to share the spotlight with other couples." If you or your partner aren't into sharing, you might consider popping the question off-season, so to speak.

4. Plan far in advance.Unlike other times when your favorite florist can whip up a beautiful bouquet in a matter of minutes, she's likely be booked solid this time of the year. Same goes for the photographer you want to capture the proposal on the sly. Worse, warns Glick, they might be closed for the week. So instead of waiting, be sure to "book vendors in advance to ensure everyone you need on your dream team is available," Glick says.

5. Prepare a good decoy.According to Glick, your significant other will be especially suspicious of any out-of-the-ordinary plans this time of year. He or she may even be hoping for a proposal. So, "be sure to have a great decoy that is something that two of you would normally do," Glick suggests. "For example, don't tell him or her that the plan is to hop in a helicopter on Christmas Eve—unless of course, that's a standard night out for the two of you."